Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-12-22

nlfed tear dropped on the little muH.
"Certainly! may I see it?" She gave it
to him without looking up, her thoughts
in a tumult as to swhat mamma would
think" to see her talking to this hand
some man, whose admiring brown eyes
were harder to meet than the CLASSY stare
she had anticipated.
The editor unfolded the paper and
glanced over the pages, pausing occasion
| ally TO read a sentence through.
Blanche sat with downcast eyes.
Nothing broke the silence save the rust
ling of the clock.
| s'Ahem! excuse me, but is this part of
the story?" asked the editor, as he held
up before her gaze-horror of horrors!
I~the very letter she had received from the
H Magazine!
| In her haste and enthusiasm over her
"great lark" she had gathered up with
the manuscript the letter which had been
lying open upon it, and the EDITORS
quick eye had grasped its contents at a
glance.
| Blanche gave one terrified look, and
then, forgetful OF everything, sprang for
ward and clutched the fatal letter.
sob, how could you" she gasped, glar-
ing at the innocentlY offending editor
through her tears.
''My dear young lady, it was wholly
uniutentional on my part! had looked
at it before 1 thought of its not belong
ing to the story" continued this soft
hearted editor, growing confidential in
his efforts to be consoling. II once re-
ceived the same kind of letter. Your
story is very pretty one, prettily told,
and think l can use it in my magazine"
| +oI,A
it had been a Mother-Goose rhyme, so
thoroughly sympathetic had he become
under the magic influence of the bright
tears.
"WelI," said Blanche, recovering her
self possession, II will tell you all about
it," and in simple, straightforward man
ner, she told him of the return of the
manuscript, and the letter accompany
ing it. 81 did not mean that you should
know it had been declined once," she
said, with charming candor, the swift
bushes dying her cheeks. 'Was it very
wrong for me not to tell your"
"Not at all, said this unabashed young
man, smiling in spite of himself at her
earnestness.
''Why!" he exclaimed, as he noticed the
name and address at the bottom of the
last page. "Do you live ct No. 373 c.
street,"
EYES, have lived there five years."
"Then 7 am more than delighted to
have met my next door neighbor. live
at No. 371.'
1t was now Blanche's turn to be aston
ished. To think that she had thus igno-
miniously introduced herself to her near
est neighbOr!
''Why, have never seen yoa," she be-
gan.
"Nor I you," he interrupted, "but that
is not so very strange. / have been board
ing there for only two weeks, and as &c
away quite early in the morning and it is
dark when get home these short after
Moons, we could easily miss seeing each
other"
"WeN, said Blanche, laughingly, com
pretending the novelty of the situation
II feel heartily ashamed that you have
met me under such unfavorable circum
stances. In the first place l had expect
ed to see baldheaded old man. / had
the impression that all editors were old
and bald. Being com pletely surprised al
not finding the individual 1 had picture
to myself, and being little conscience
stricken over my deceit concerning the
manuscri OF, fear lost my self-posses
sion"
"You are certainly excusable under
these trying circumstances" said the
editor smiling. "By the way, L beg the
liberty to tell you my name; my name is
also Raymond Raymond Douglass" and
he drew from his pocket a card, which he
passed to her.
''Miss Raymond" continued this au-
daciOus young man, Il will look over
this manuscript carefully, and if should
happen to find somelittle mistakes might
tatingly-'imight | call, say to
morrow evening, to have you rectify
themf L know that you would much pre-
fer correc ing them in your own way
ard [ would be extremely happy to afford
you that privilege. Besides, / am 6
ueighcor, and sometimes very lonely" be
added, with a melancholy glance from
the brown eyes.
How could Blanche refuse this hand
some young editor who had all the wiles
of his profession3 Besides, was it not
very kind OF him to take such an interest
in her poor little story?
With a blush and a smile she told him
he might come, and then, with pleasant
goodbye, left Mr.. Douglass to dream OF
pair of gray eyes glistening through
Dr1gnb TEARS, ana sweet, sensitive mouth
saying: Glow could you!" in reproach
rul accents.
Did he find any mistakes? Trust to
Raymond Douglass for that The next
evening found him fairly introduced al
No. 373. The acquaintanceship begun
under such novel circumstances progress
! ed rapidly in the forty five minutes Mr.
Douglass spent under the hos pitable roof
of his next door neighbor. and kind in.
vitation to ''call again" sent him on his
way re joicing that fate had cast his lot in
such pleasant place. And Blanche?- h
she was but girl-and what girl has not
had bright dreams?
Time passed on, bringing in the New
Year, bringing the first faint breezes OF
| spring and the perfume of the earliest
violets, bringing Raymond Douglass of
| ten to the house of the grayeyed damsel
and bringing true, pure love to the
| hearts of these two.
And so, when the old earth looked It's
fairest liz its emerald robe aud flower
| garlGnds, these two were wed.
/ ha hos ha5 4